Santa Maria Novella  lively area near the central train station

A compact corner

Looking for a lively neighbourhood with great transport links to the city centre and Florence airport? Then consider one of GowithOhs apartment rentals in the popular district of Santa Maria Novella. We have vacation apartments close to the must-see attraction of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella containing beautiful frescoes by Michelangelo. The area is also famous for its nightlife with some of the citys best bars located in the district. We have a selection of serviced apartments near to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, one of the busiest stations in Italy direct trains to the centre as well as connections to other Italian cities including Pisa and Bologna. All our Santa Maria Novella apartment rentals have reviews from previous guests to help you decide which one is right for you. So if you are looking for a place to stay combining cultural sites, nightlife and easy transport links, try one of our Santa Maria Novella apartments today! The area of Santa Maria Novella is located in the north-east of the historical city of Florence and is one of the most important parts of the city. This district is home to the major train station that receives the majority of Italian and foreign rail traffic in and out of the city each day. The areas central location allows travellers to visit the main monuments close at hand  the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella being the focal point of the piazza. You can expect a high concentration of shops and restaurants throughout this lively part of town, while international trade fairs are often held at nearby Fortezza di Basso.
The Santa Maria Novella square is at the very heart of the district, surrounded by historical buildings, gardens and fountains. From the Middle Ages onwards it was often used to host parties and public events. The square is home to the beautiful Basilica de Santa Maria Novella, built in the 14th century and one of the most important expressions of the Florentine Renaissance. In recent years, the square has undergone an impressive renovation and now boasts a more modern look with benches for weary walkers. Its always a hub of activity - tourists, locals, street-performers, artists and students can be found in this area at all hours of the day or night.

Know your neighbours

The main streets stem from Piazza Santa Maria Novella. This area is home to a diverse crowd of international people and can be a bit noisy at night. The close proximity to the station and almost all of the central monuments makes it desirable for students and tourists. Word to the wise  this area at night can be considered unsavoury after a certain hour. While it has undergone a bit of gentrification with the revival of the piazza, you will see some young men loitering in the streets at late hours.

Shopping options

Everywhere you look in this area a variety of shops are available, many aimed at the tourist market. Strolling down historic Via Della Scala, you must pop into the the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, the oldest pharmacy in Europe and established by the Dominican Fathers shortly after 1221. With a museum-like feel, its free to enter. The inside architecture is absolutely beautiful, and the period furniture is a further highlight. They sell a variety of unique gift items such as their famous Rose tonic water and assorted flavoured honeys and teas. If youre walking down the main road heading towards the Duomo Cathedral and you take a left on Via Borgo San Lorenzo you will run into the famous San Lorenzo Markets and Central Market. Here you can find every item under the sun including speciality scarves, leather bags and souvenirs. Make sure to haggle since Made in Italy is often a joke around these parts due to the outsourcing of many materials. The indoor central market is a foodies paradise with locals browsing the abundant fresh vegetables, meat and spices during the morning hours.

Getting around

The most accessible area of town has no shortage of public transportation for the weary traveller. Hopping on the C2 will take you around most central areas of town and back. Most bus lines stop at the main train station and the T1 tramvia (electric tram) is located behind the train station in front of the bus depot. The T1 can take you to Scandicci and Cascine Park. You can also catch the Volainbus, the airport shuttle by the taxi stand which runs every half hour. A great option to better discover the city is by renting a bike. In front of the taxi stand is a selection of bikes for rent for a reasonable price of 10. They are bright purple and can be rented every day except Sunday, and you will need to leave a valid document as a deposit. Many locals use these bikes to run errands during the day and they are usually in pretty good condition.

See and Do

A must-see is the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella with its beautiful frescoes and mysterious cloisters. Considered to be one of the most historical and important churches in the city, enjoy the masters of Gothic and early Renaissance including the magnificent The Holy Trinity by Masaccio. Otherwise, why not go on a journey through the history of photography? Visit the Alinari National Museum of Photography, located in the main Piazza. With 900,000 vintage prints, it also has special touch mediums for the visually impaired.
Looking for a peaceful green spot? Not far from the train station is Cascine Park, two miles of green area dating back from the 16th century and a former hunting reserve in the city. While hanging out there at night isnt recommended, during the day its an oasis of peace of quiet and every Tuesday morning its home to a huge open market lining the riverbank. Walk along the tree-lined paths, kick a soccer ball around or have a drink poolside at the La Pavoniere, located in the heart of the park.

Eating out

Find Via delle Belledonne, hidden off the main piazza and the perfect place to satisfy your hunger at a few quaint and delicious trattorias and busy cafés. Via della Scala, site of the historical pharmacy, is also dotted with many ethnic and local eateries. Make sure to book a table at Il Latini on Via dei Palchetti, where you will enjoy a feast of local specialties including the famous Florentine steak. Ethnic eateries including Indian and Mexican food can be found on Via Il Prato, a 5 to 10-minute walk from the train station.

Nightlife

Theres certainly no shortage of nightlife opportunities in this side of town. Home to some of the best pubs in town, directly in front of the Basilica in the main piazza is Fiddlers Elbow, an Irish pub famous among locals and the place for a pint of Guinness. If you are more of a Hemingway type, Art Bar on Via del Moro is known for its exotic fruit cocktails. Walking down Via Ognissanti, indulge your inner wino at Sei Divino, a great wine bar with quite a selection and a delicious aperitivo buffet. If you fancy going back in time for a legendary nightcap, Harrys Bar along the river is the perfect place for a cup of coffee or one of their famous Bellini cocktails. If dancing is more to your liking, the famous Space Club on Via Palazuoli has been in existence for over 30 years. To this day it remains a popular nightclub filled with foreign students and locals on the weekend.

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apartments in Santa Maria Novella

Your service was excellent, only thing I would have changed was the fact that one had to pay in 2 steps; bringing that amount of cash to pay host is cumbersome. It would be way smoother, to just pay the whole amount online to agency, who then forwards host their share, as agency already has gotten their fees covered. This is common with W and A, and what makes us look to them first.

Fantastic service. Our caretaker was in touch with us as soon as we landed and met us as soon as we arrived at the apartment. We had a great stay.

Easy to use and everything went well!

Fast service and vey helpfull staff.

Third time we travelled with Gowithoh. Very reliable and apartments look exactly like advertised. Smooth booking process

Quality of accommodation offered

EVERTHING

So easy to book.

I was very pleased with the quality of service I received. I had regular emails regarding what to do next and reminders about payments and information about things to do, how to get from the airport etc, this was very helpful. My Barcelona link from my emails took me to the website and I found it easy to use, actually the website was extremely user friendly. I do not think there is anything that could have been done by Oh to have made my stay iany better than it was. We had an amazing time and the experience was enhanced by the service we received before we even got there.

Communication was easy and clear. This was our first time to use this service and I will look for it in other cities. Thanks!

Site was in English and apartment description was accurate.

Was a little confused at the start of the reservation when boking with V and transitioning to Go With.

You kept in contact with us, even texting us on arrival to check we were ok. Helpful email with things to do.